Take Dead Aim
“Take dead aim.” That was the catchphrase of my high school golf coach, who was obsessed with transforming his scatterbrained young charges into focused, intentional athletes while hitting every single golf shot.
When it comes to our Hearts Ablaze campaign at church, we’re trying to follow the wisdom, “Take dead aim.” The main goal is not about dollars and cents, but about coming together as a community so that more and more kids and grownups alike can have a “hearts ablaze” experience with Jesus. That’s a picture of the future that we can achieve only with 100% participation by each “All In” member of our congregation. And if we achieve that level of participation, God will be honored and the dollars will work themselves out.
In every campaign, there is a healthy tension between the dynamics of human engineering and reliance on the Holy Spirit. I like to think that I lean towards the latter. But, we’ve also done a lot of preparing, thinking, planning, and praying over the last year to get ready for this very moment.
And there is a significant financial component to the campaign, an audacious God-sized goal of raising $11.5 million dollars from the pledges of our generous, all-in members over the next two years. Here’s how that $11.5mm number breaks down between three targets:
1. Two years of our regular ministry and operations budget ($6.5mm)
More than half of our campaign pledges will be devoted to what we’re already doing, carrying on the regular mission and ministries of the church.
2. Debt retirement on our building and campus ($4mm)
After 16 great years at our current location, it’s time for our only remaining debt to be our debt of gratitude to God. After an original cost of $25mm, the remainder of our mortgage obligation dipped below $4 million for the first time earlier this month.
3. Funding for ministry improvements, expansion, and capital maintenance ($1mm)
We have no shortage of great ways to keep growing Up, In, and Out. (Read about them HERE.) Recently, God has opened a door for our church to become the new host site for the Elmhurst Farmers Market, which will bring thousands of friends and neighbors to our campus on Wednesday mornings starting in June 2025. Even though our campus still feels very new, a number of repairs and replacements are on the horizon as we near the 20-year mark at 149 W Brush Hill Road.
If you’re still wondering what this is all about, or missed last Sunday’s worship service, I’d love for you to take five minutes to view the Hearts Ablaze Vision Video which describes via words and compelling images what we believe God is asking us to “take dead aim” at.
This promises to be another great Sunday of worship. Don’t forget to wear your “Hearts Ablaze” t-shirt and bring your booklet for sermon notes. We have extras if you haven’t received them yet. Grace to you,
– Pastor Gregg